CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Friday Morning Swim Club — the seasonal gathering that got thousands of people to jump into Lake Michigan at Montrose Harbor — will not return in 2024, organizers announced on Thursday.
It started three years ago among friends, but the weekly plunge eventually blew up on social media and even had a pin on Google Maps marking the gathering spot.
Organizers released a video about the upcoming season on Thursday.
"A decision has been made regarding the upcoming summer," said organizer Andrew Glatt. "Unfortunately, official Friday Morning Swim Club swims will not be making a comeback."
Glatt said the "bottom line" was that it seemed clear to organizers "that the Chicago Park District was not interested in making this work."
Friday Morning Swim Club was supposed to be a free event to get people off of their phones and enjoying nature, Glatt said, but he claimed the Chicago Park District didn't see it that way.
"Adding lifeguards, additional permit costs, as well as costs from the required transportation plans, maintenance plans and portable toilets — all of which were made clear would be required for a one-hour event — and we're looking at a minimum of $150,000 – $175,000 for the summer, just for the permit."
On Friday, WBBM Newsradio received a statement from the Chicago Park District.
A statement reads in part: "The Park District engaged in several good faith conversations over the past few months with Swim Club organizers, offering various alternative locations and/or limitations that would have allowed issuance of the permits necessary for such large lakefront gatherings and with the appropriate lifeguard protections required for similar large lakefront charity event swims and aquatic athletic events. Suggestions to relocate to a sanctioned swim area, secure adequate lifeguard coverage, and obtain proper large event permits to allow for safer and more cost-effective events were rejected by the organizers."
The Chicago Park District noted that the location organizers choose to have the swim club are marked as a "No Swimming" area.
Glatt said the park district's demands went beyond money. Among the sticking points was a disagreement over the safety of floatation devices, which became a staple of Friday Morning Swim Club. The park district's position was that the swim club would be safer without floats, as they aren't approved life-saving devices.
"Think about that scenario for a second," Glatt said. "Five-hundred-plus people get into this body of water, at once, with four exit ladders and no floatation devices because the Chicago Park District claims that's the safest option."
The statement from the Chicago Park District clarified that because the U.S. Coast Guard does not consider flotation devices as life saving devices they are not allowed at Park District beaches and pools.
Organizers encouraged people to continue enjoying Lake Michigan, which they described as one of their favorite parts of living in Chicago.
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
